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Volume 19-27 | 7.2.19
Legislative Session Wrap-Up
The Legislative Session wrapped up with excellent news for the State Aid for Library Construction Program, both houses approved a bill to restore the $20 million the Governor cut from the program. This should put the program back to its high-water mark, reached last year, of $34 million. This is dependent on the Governor signing the bill that restores these funds.
 
Bills related to the program that would extend the availability of the "economically disadvantaged community" reduced match option; decrease that match option to a 90/10 match; and a new bill to allow applications for coordinated grant applications among multiple libraries were all passed by the legislature and await signature by the Governor.
 
Legislative Grants-in-Aid Program : Discretionary funds assigned to the Senate and Assembly area awarded to libraries through the Grants-in-Aid or "Bullet Aid" program. Nine MHLS Member Libraries will benefit from these funds this year:

Senate Grants-in Aid
  • Beekman Library: $13,889
  • Brewster Public Library: $13,889
  • Reed Memorial Library (Carmel): $13,889
  • Elting Memorial Library (New Paltz): $2,000
  • Mahopac Public Library: $13,889
  • Patterson Library: $13,889
  • Pawling Free Library: $13,889
  • Rosendale Library: $2,000
Assembly Grants-in Aid
  • Brewster Public Library: $13,000
  • Roeliff Jansen Community Library: $13,000
MHLS Announcements

The 2019 Mid-Hudson Library System Annual Membership Meeting will be held on Friday, October 25th at The Henry A. Wallace Center @ FDR Presidential Library and Home in Hyde Park, NY. Our keynote speaker will be Miguel Figueroa, Director of the ALA Center for the Future of Libraries discussing the role of libraries in the context of Trends, Signals and Changes.
 
Looking to fine tune your connections through social media? Join us for the first ever meeting of the brand new MHLS Social Media Roundtable! The Social Media Roundtable will be a place for our member library staff and trustees to discuss how libraries use social media, ask questions, share their current practices, and learn about upcoming trends in the marketing world that will affect libraries.
 
Step 1: Please help us develop social media topics relevant to your library by filling out our brief survey http://bit.ly/2X7sgm5 This  survey will close on August 2nd. Questions should be directed to MHLS Outreach & Engagement Specialist, Courtney Wimmers, [email protected]
 
Step 2 : Register today for the first meeting of the Social Media Roundtable , Friday, September 20th, 10:00-11:30am in the MHLS Auditorium. Please register for this event through the online calendar   http://calendar.midhudson.org/
MHLS Libraries
(l-r) Stephen Almasi, Susan Patterson and James Patterson
In May, Stephen Almasi, the Senior Librarian at Coxsackie Correctional Facility, attended BookExpo where he selected 125 new books for the correctional facility's library collection. Coxsackie Correctional Facility is one of six correctional facility libraries in the MHLS service area. MHLS provides services to each of these facilities through designated funds provided by NYS. While adding to his library's collection Stephen also achieved a bucket list item by participating in a book signing with James Patterson, and his wife Susan.
Professional Development
New York Library Association (NYLA) is pleased to announce the Developing Leaders Program (DLP). This nine-month program (August - April), totaling 37.5 contact hours, will help participants explore and strengthen their leadership skills. The program will be delivered via both in person and online courses. Participants will be divided into groups to complete a team-based project. The DLP is designed for individuals seeking to cultivate their skills and capacities in personal and organizational leadership. The DLP focuses on 'soft-skills' that are applicable across all types of libraries. Individuals with three or more years of experience working in libraries are invited to participate. An MLS is not a pre-requisite for this program. The program is limited to 28 participants. In addition to the application form, a recommendation (ideally from the applicant's employer) must be submitted. Recommendations are collected via a short web form. To access the application, recommendation form and all pertinent information please visit  http://bit.ly/2ZSwJe1 
Application & Recommendation Deadline is Friday, July 19th.
Programming
STAR Net is partnering with the Collaborative Summer Library Program to share STEM resources with libraries! STAR Net has provided almost 200 high quality, vetted STEM activities that are perfect for libraries, and 81 of those are connected to the theme of A Universe of Stories. In addition to these materials, STAR Net has assembled a collection that includes collaboration opportunities, printable materials, promotional materials and inspirational items including a video series that features six leaders in space exploration explaining how libraries have inspired them. Access all of these resources and more by visiting http://www.starnetlibraries.org/summer-of-space/
Administration & Management
(l-r) Teresa McGuirk (Clinton Community Library), Carol Fortier (Beekman Library), Jen McCreery (Desmond-Fish Public Library), Gillian Thorpe (Julia L. Butterfield Memorial Library) and MHLS Executive Director Rebekkah Smith Aldrich

At the most recent New Directors Forum held after the June Directors Association (DA) Meeting, new library directors were presented with an overview of what it takes to win budget votes and building referendums.  MHLS Executive Director, Rebekkah Smith Aldrich, reviewed strategies, tools, and timelines for creating a successful campaign. A panel of veteran directors shared their experiences in planning, organizing, creating messaging, and building community support to win their libraries' votes. For more information on running a campaign for a budget vote, visit vote.midhudson.org , or contact MHLS Executive Director Rebekkah Smith Aldrich, [email protected]  or Casey Conlin, MHLS Library Sustainability Coordinator, [email protected]
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